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Persephone (also known as Kore) is the ancient Greek goddess of spring, flowers, grain and nature as well as the Queen of the Underworld through her marriage to Hades, King of the Underworld.

Role and Significance[]

As the Goddess of Spring and the turn of the seasons, Persephone is tasked with fulfilling the seasons and is assisted in these duties by her entourage of five goddesses: Khione, Orithyia, Thallo, Auxo and Carpo.

With her husband, Hades she is the ruler of the Underworld, helping her husband run the kingdom and judge mortals to decide their afterlife in the Underworld.

Persephone is also closely associated with her mother, Demeter and as a vegetation goddess, she and her mother Demeter were the central figures of the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece which promised the initiated a happy afterlife.

The origins of Persephone's cult are uncertain, but it was based on ancient agrarian cults of agricultural communities. In Athens, the mysteries celebrated in the month of Anthesterion were dedicated to her. The city of Epizephyrian Locris, in modern Calabria (southern Italy), was famous for its cult of Persephone, where she is a goddess of marriage and childbirth in this region.

In Ancient Greece, Persephone had several sacred days including: Thesmophoria, a festival held in honor of the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Celebrated in the autumn, this was a women-only ritual to promote fertility, both human and agricultural, The Spring Equinox which marked Persephone’s annual return from the Underworld, allowing the Earth to bloom again, where the Queen of Hades travels up to Olympus to spend a season with her mother, Demeter, as the first seeds begin to sprout. The Autumn Equinox: Also known as Mabon a Wiccan sabbat where some practitioners performed a special rite for the goddess Persephone’s descent into the Underworld. For as long as Demeter and her daughter Persephone are separated, the land remains barren and Samhain, where people payed their respects to the dead, by honouring their ancestors or visiting a graveyard.


Genealogy and Family[]

In most accounts Persephone is the most beloved child of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, the harvest, sacred law and fertility and her brother, Zeus, the King of the Gods. Persephone has many half siblings including Arrion, Despoina, Plutus, Philomelus, Eubeleus and Khrysothemis from her mother. Persephone later married Hades, the God of the dead and King of the Underworld and possibly became the mother of Makaria by Hades. In Orphism, she is the mother of The Erinyes by Hades and Zagreus and Melinoe by Zeus.

Stories[]

Persephone's mother Demeter was seduced by Zeus, the King of the Gods, who impregnated her, nine months later she would have Persephone whom she raised outside of Mount Olympus as her closest companion.

Demeter and Persephone reunited

Painting depicting Demeter reuniting with her daughter, Persephone after leaving the Underworld

When she was older, Persephone was introduced to the other Twelve Olympians on Mount Olympus by Demeter, where some of the Gods became romantically interested in her such as Apollo and Hermes. However it was Aphrodite who told her son, Eros to make Hades fall in love with Persephone and subsequently Eros shot his love arrows into Hades, making him fall in love with Persephone. Whilst Persephone was accompanied by some Nymphs and observing flowers with them, she was captured by Hades, who forcibly took her to the Underworld. There she was scared and missed her mother, Hades then passed to Persephone, a pomegranate to eat and she ate some of its seeds, on the other hand, Demeter went on an urgent search for Persephone having found her missing and Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, came to Demeter and told Demeter that she had heard somebody screaming which could have been Persephone. Demeter and Hecate then visited Helios, the Titan God of the Sun, the only person capable of seeing everything on Earth and asked him about Persephone, Helios then responded to the women that Persephone had been abducted by Hades and taken to the Underworld. Demeter became so heartbroken with this news that she took the fertility of the earth away, causing the plants to wither and die as a result of her grief, until she could meet with her daughter again. This made Zeus, send out his son, Hermes, to bring Persephone back to her mother. But as Persephone had eaten the food of the Underworld- she could not immediately leave and was bound there. Due to both Hades and Demeter, wanting to be with Persephone, they had to make an agreement to let Persephone spend one half of each year with Hades in the Underworld and the other half at home with her mother, Demeter above ground. When Persephone was with Demeter she would bring back the fertility of the earth, creating Spring and Summer, but when Persephone left her for The Underworld, Demeter would bring Autumn and Winter, relinquishing the fertility of the earth. This story was used by the Ancient Greeks to explain the seasons.

Other Myths Persephone appeared in were:

The Birth of Zagreus- A story in Orphic tradition, where Zeus, took the form of a serpent and impregnated Persephone, who would bare his son, Zagreus. Zagreus had a very short and tragic life as after Zeus placed Zagreus upon the throne of heaven and armed him with his lightning bolts. The Titans, incited by the jealous goddess Hera, sneaked into Olympus and offered the boy a collection of toys, tricking him into setting aside the lightning. They then seized and dismembered him with their knives. Zeus recovered Zagreus' heart and made it into a potion for Semele to imbibe who then conceived and gave birth to the second Zagreus named Dionysus as a reincarnation of the first.

The Tale of Eros and Psyche- Where the mortal Psyche as one of her hardships, travelled to the Underworld and asked Persephone for a box of her beauty on behalf of Aphrodite, as one of Psyche's tasks/ hardships, where Persephone complied and fulfilled her request and gave the mortal a box also containing a death substance.

The Tale of Orpheus- Where Persephone beside Hades, met Orpheus a talented bard, legendary musician and prophet, who played emotional music on his lyre and desired to take his wife, Eurydice back to the living world, after her tragic, premature death, and asked Hades to allow him to take her back. Which Hades agreed to, telling Orpheus to walk back to the living world and not look back at his wife. But when Orpheus became suspicious due to not hearing his wife's footsteps he looked behind him at her causing Eurydice to become permanently bound to the Underworld. Upon Orpheus making it to the living world alone he fell into deeper depression, but eventually he would be reunited with his wife in the Underworld, after he was killed by a group of jealous Maenad Nymphs.

The Story of Adonis- Aphrodite and Persephone found a beautiful baby boy alone in a forest and both of them fought over raising him until coming to a conclusion to share this responsibility. Persephone decided to take the boy named Adonis to the Underworld with her during her time there where they stayed together half of each year, whilst he stayed with Aphrodite during the other year half. When Adonis grew up, he became a lover to both goddesses.

More coming soon!

Gallery[]

Persephone's gallery can be found here.

Personality[]

Persephone is graceful and considerate. Although seemingly innocent, she is not one to be toyed with as she holds the capability to stand up for herself and do what is right.  

Appearance[]

Persephone is a very beautiful woman with wavy golden hair, green emerald eyes and a heart shaped face, with a curvy figure. In the underworld her hair seems to darken and her style seems to change.

In art, she is often depicted as a redhead.

Powers[]

Persephone possesses eternal youth and immortality, she cannot die, is immune to any diseases and illnesses humans may have and does not require sleep, also she has utter control over nature just like her mother Demeter and can revive flowers with a touch or wave. Persephone also has control over fertility. Through marrying Hades she gets the ability to bring death and life to mortals and rules over the realm of the dead- The Underworld. Persephone was such a feared goddess in Ancient Greece that people would avoid saying her and her husband's names, thinking they could end their life at any moment.

Relationships[]

Demeter- Demeter is a very loving, attached, devoted, doting and protective mother to Persephone, who raised her as a single parent off Mount Olympus. Demeter also taught Persephone her responsibilities as a spring and nature goddess with her working with and helping Demeter. The two are basically best friends who did everything together. Persephone also loves her mom very much and missed her dearly when she had been taken away from her to the Underworld by Hades, the two continue their close relationship and duties, with Persephone visiting her mother during the spring and summer months of each year.

Hades-Persephone married her uncle, Hades and became the Queen of the Underworld and a death deity. This came to be when Aphrodite made Eros strike his love arrow into Hades to fall in love with Persephone, who kidnapped her and took her to the underworld, where they eventually wed. Persephone spends half of each year with Hades in the Underworld. They seem to have developed a loving relationship. Hades is a more loyal husband than Zeus, Poseidon and Apollo, though fell in love with at least one person during their marriage- a Nymph named Leuce and Persephone is mostly loyal but did cheat at least with one person- Adonis, a handsome mortal also loved by Aphrodite. She may be the mother of Hades' daughter, Makaria.

Zeus- Zeus is the father of Persephone, who seduced and impregnated her mother Demeter in a field, causing her to become pregnant with Persephone who would be born nine months later. During Persephone's early life, Zeus and his daughter were not very close as Demeter raised Persephone off Mount Olympus as a single parent. When Persephone goes to Mount Olympus for the first time she meets the Twelve Olympians and Hades haven fallen in love with Persephone got the permission of Zeus to take her as his bride, Hades then forcefully took Persephone to the Underworld, without even telling Demeter or having her blessing, who became angry and punished Zeus and the other gods by taking away the fertility of the earth. Zeus then had to find a way to appease both Demeter and Hades and came to a conclusion that Persephone should spend half the year with Hades underground and the other half above ground with Demeter, which they agreed upon for the sake of peace. Zeus seems to treat his daughter well following this.

In Orphism, Zeus would develop lust towards Persephone and had non consensual intercourse with her in the form of snake- impregnating her and causing her to birth Zagreus.

Also according to Orphism, Zeus would take the form of Persephone's husband Hades and they had a daughter together: Melinoe, the goddess of ghosts.

Names and Epithets[]

List of Persephone's poetic and cultic titles and epithets:

  • Azesia- “of the Dried Fruits” and/or “Who Seeks”. The epithet is shared with her mother, Demeter. It is possible the double meaning is intended to link them while referring to their separate aspects.
  • Brimo- “the Angry” or “the Terrifying”. An alternative interpretation places the meaning as “of the Crackling Fire.” This epithet was most commonly shared by Persephone, Demeter, Hekate, and Cybele. However, many Goddesses are known to be called by this name. The interpretation of “the Crackling Fire” refers to Hekate bearing the torches during the initial search for Persephone.
  • Carpophorus- “Bringer of Fruit”. This epithet was specific to Persephone in the role of Kore. She shared it with Demeter. This was a common epithet used at their temple in Tegea.
  • Chthonia- “of the Earth” or “Subterranean”. This is an epithet common to any deity who journeys to the Underworld. Notably, it is shared by Hades, Persephone, Demeter, Hekate, Hermes, and Dionysus.
  • Daeira- “Knowing One”. Demeter’s and Persephone’s Mystery traditions were one of the first and most well-known. Persephone comprehended the mysteries of living and death. She knew the mechanisms of the Earth.
  • Deione- “Daughter of Demeter”.
  • Despoena- “The Ruling Goddess” or “The Mistress.” This epithet is shared by Persephone, Demeter, and Aphrodite.
  • Eleusina- “of Eleusis”. This epithet is shared by Persephone and Demeter. The main area of their worship was the town of Eleusis in Attica.
  • Epaine- “the Fearful”. It is not that Persephone herself was afraid, but her worshipers praised her because of how they feared her.
  • Hagne- “Pure” or “Holy One”.
  • Hercyna- “of the Stone Enclosure”. This is a poorly understood epithet. In my opinion, it refers to her domain in the Underworld.
  • Kore- “The Maiden”. This is an alternate name for Persephone and was her original name before joining Hades in the Underworld. It can be used for her at any time.
  • Leptynis- There is no solid interpretation of this epithet. Leptins were small Greek coins used in ancient times, so I often think this means “of the Coins.” This would work because her husband was Hades, Lord of Riches and coins were used as payment to enter the Underworld.
  • Megala Thea- “Great Goddess”.
  • Melitodes- “Sweet as Honey”. Persephone, as seen above, was considered to be a terrifying Goddess. This epithet was used as a way of invoking her softly, with compliments.
  • Praxidike- “Bringer of Justice”.
  • Protogone- “First Born”. This is another poorly understood epithet. I interpret it as a nod to Persephone as Demeter’s first-born child. (Zeus had many Goddesses he considered to be his Queen. Demeter was one of them, and Persephone is often considered to be their child from this time.)
  • Soteira- “Savior”. An epithet shared by many Goddesses including Artemis, Persephone, Athena, and Eunomia. In Laconia and Arcadia, this was commonly used by worshipers of Persephone. A similar epithet is shared by Hades and Dionysus, as well as many other Gods.

Symbols[]

Persephone's symbols are the pomegranate, the deer, a torch, flowers and seeds of grain.




Monthly Update[]

Persephone has been chosen to being this Wiki's April theme.

Table of persona
Talent 85
Beauty concern 70
Personality 94
Strengths 78

Trivia[]

Persephone's other name, Kore means "the maiden".

Persephone means "bringer of death" and is spelt Περσε.

According to Apollodorus, a rare account, Persephone's mother is Styx, the river goddess.

In Orphism, according to one story, Persephone was the daughter of Rhea by Zeus. After Rhea refused Zeus' offer of marriage to her, she turned into a snake to escape him but Zeus also turned into a snake and raped Rhea-impregnating her. After Rhea gave birth to Persephone, she turned into Demeter and was so horrified with her daughter that she did not breastfeed her.

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